A coalition of civil society organisations operating under the banner of The Patriots has dismissed allegations that the Tax Reform Acts 2025 were altered after passage by the National Assembly, insisting that official legislative records remain unchanged and authoritative.
In a press release issued on Sunday in Abuja, the group described the claims as misleading and unfounded, stressed that the Votes and Proceedings of the Senate and the House of Representatives of May 28, 2025 constitute the final and binding record of decisions taken by the National Assembly on the Tax Acts.
Speaking through its Coordinator, Muhammad E. Dauda, The Patriots said the Votes and Proceedings were published as early as May 29, 2025, and have remained in the public domain since then. Dauda noted that the coalition carefully reviewed the harmonised versions of the Tax Acts, alongside the Votes and Proceedings and Conference Committee reports, and found no material discrepancies.
The group further addressed allegations suggesting the existence of two different versions of the Tax Acts in the Official Gazette, explaining that while it had yet to independently verify such claims, gazetting remained an administrative and ministerial process rather than a legislative one.
“Gazetting serves merely to notify the public of laws already validly enacted. It does not confer authority to alter, amend or rewrite legislation passed by the National Assembly,” the statement said.
To support its position, The Patriots cited established judicial authorities, including Attorney-General of the Federation v Guardian Newspaper Ltd (1989), Attorney-General of Lagos State v Attorney-General of the Federation (1986), and Attorney-General of Ondo State v Attorney-General of the Federation (2002). According to the group, Nigerian courts have consistently held that administrative or clerical errors in publication cannot override the clear intent of the legislature as captured in official parliamentary records.
While acknowledging that allegations of post-passage alterations are serious and deserve scrutiny, The Patriots stressed that the burden of proof rests on those making such claims, adding that, pending any judicial determination, laws duly passed by the National Assembly remain valid, binding and enforceable.
The coalition expressed strong support for the decision of the National Assembly leadership to re-gazette the Tax Acts in their correct form, as reflected in the harmonised clean copies, Votes and Proceedings and Conference Reports, describing the move as lawful, appropriate and constitutionally sound.
It warned that calls for suspension of implementation or for repeal and re-enactment of the laws are unnecessary and risk creating avoidable legal, economic and fiscal uncertainty.
The Patriots also commended the directive by the leadership of the National Assembly instructing the Clerk to issue Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the Tax Acts to members of the public upon request, noting that this would enhance transparency, legal certainty and public confidence.
The group urged all aggrieved persons and the general public to respect parliamentary records, support the prompt re-gazetting of the Acts, and refrain from narratives capable of undermining democratic institutions.
